Page 8 of Our Darling Isabelle

“My name is Alec Barone. You will show my brother Markus and I some fucking respect while you are in our home.” He snaps at her before drawing his eyes down her body slowly. She fidgets in my grip and looks back over the house, mouthing our last name as realization shakes her. Our mansion sits on an enormous piece of property, surrounded by grass inside of twelve-foot-tall bar fencing.

The long driveway leads down to a locking gate that requires a code and approval from somebody inside our guard station. Small woods also surround us on three sides of the property. Her chances of escape are nearly nonexistent, and she knows it.

“I have some money, and I will work the rest of her debt off.” She says, sadly. My brother and I exchanged looks, and I regretfully let her pull away from me.

“You have barely three grand in cash. Your mother already drained the account.” Alec says roughly. “If I had it my way, we would just kill Marlene and call it even.” he says, crossing his arms.

“No, you can’t!” she shouts, lunging at him to slam her palms into his chest. Even though she caught him completely off guard, he just tilts his head down at her and grabs her hands in his.

“You are on my last nerve already,” He looks up at me. “You said she wouldn’t be a problem.” He reminds me again. She yanks back away from him and turns towards me. I smile down at her and resist wiping her little pout away with my thumb.

“If you leave my mother alone, then I will work off her debt. Not with sex, though.” She holds her hand out to me, fighting back tears. I reach down and slowly take her hand in mine and lean down, yanking her to me to whisper in her ear.

“You’ll be begging me to fuck your tight little cunt before you know it.” I lean back to see her mouth hanging open and her eyes wide. In a normal voice, I say, “You will work off your mother’s debt, your life for hers.” It’s almost tragic. Her mother had always been so awful and was even willing to throw her at the beasts. Yet here Isabelle stands, trying to be brave and willing to give her life to protect her mother.

Chapter 8—Isabelle

Ipace my room, chewing on my lips as panic only grows in my chest. The room was painted a pale lavender with a tall queen-sized bed sat against the wall in the corner with a white iron headboard. A short white oak dresser sits across the room with a matching vanity beside the bed that was covered in plush purple blankets and pillows. They took my phone, my laptop, and nearly all my other belongings. The grumpy one, Alec, came in and dropped one box of my things on the floor. He didn’t even say anything, just grunted at me like a fucking caveman. The box just held a few items of clothing, along with my favorite blanket and my hairbrush. I chang into a comfortable black skirt and light gray t-shirt, frustrated with my lack of choices but not wanting to stay in blood stained sweats.

I was told to just wait here as if I had any choice in the matter. Jared took the broken pieces of lamp out while I watched him from across the room. He kept flicking worried glances at me and I didn’t blame him. I’m not sure I would have attacked him even if I had a suitable weapon. The scrawny guy had it coming, though. I reach up and touch the tender skin around my nose and flop onto the bed. Did they kill him, I wonder? Markus was fuming.

Why did I even agree to this? I shouldn’t have. These are the ruthless Barone’s whose father ran the city before his death. After he died, the family was quiet for a few months. It seems like his sons were just getting comfortable before stepping into their father’s shoes.

I wrap my blanket around myself and bury my face in the fuzzy gray fabric to hide my tears as I think of my mom. After everything she had done, I can’t believe she would offer her own daughter up as payment. Why couldn’t I just tell them to off her and let me go? Aden would have told me I was making the wrong decision.

“Are you going to even look for me, Aden?” I whisper to myself.

“He has been calling your phone.” Markus’ deep voice is right in front of me, and I jerk my head up, screaming in surprise. He grins at me and crosses his arms, bringing my eyes down to his chest. His black button up is so tight across his broad chest that it looks like the seams could rip at any moment.

“So, who is he?” His voice is lower this time, and my eyes flick back up to his face. At least I got kidnapped by a walking sex icon as opposed to some creep in his mom’s basement. I snort at my thoughts, and he leans down, putting his face in mine.

“Something funny?” His strong jawline is shaded with stubble, and his breath smells like peppermint and cigarettes.

“Smoking is bad for you,” I whisper. He opens and closes his mouth, at a loss for words. Then he gives me a smile that would make most girls swoon. If they weren’t kidnapped and being held hostage for the foreseeable future.

“This is going to be so much fun, Belle.” He holds his hand out for me to take. When I just stare, he drops it with a sigh and motions towards the door.

“Come out here and meet the woman you’ll be working with. We pay our lovely Miranda a good amount. Around forty an hour for home upkeep.” He says, walking to the door as I follow.

“But she has been with us since we were young and is damn good at her job. Let’s say you make around twenty an hour to help her.” He smiles over his shoulder at me. I scrunch my brows in confusion, and he sighs as if I’m being obtuse. “To pay off half a million, at around eight hours a day for six days a week. Well, that’s a lot of hours,” He reminds me.

“I could make more than that if you would let me go to my actual job,” I mumble. He turns around suddenly and backs me against the wall, tsking and shaking his finger.

“You agreed to this, or have you changed your mind?” Markus asks.

“What if I did?” I ask, holding my head high, even as fear and excitement are fumbling under the surface. His breath fans my heated face and I struggle to keep my hands from shaking.

“Then I’ll kill your mother and still keep you.” He says nonchalantly. I scoff at his abrasive comment and turn my face away as he leans closer. He dips his head to my hair, taking a deep breath and whispering “You smell like sunshine, Belle.” I have to bite my lip to keep from letting out a soft sigh. I must be insane. He kidnapped me and here I am, flustered while he smells my hair. I hold my breath as he drags his tongue over my throat, pulling a gasp from my traitorous lips. He groans and takes a step back, adjusts himself inside his pants shamelessly while I watch.

“Are you staring at my cock?” His words shoot straight between my thighs, and I have to shake myself mentally. This is the type of man your mother warns you to stay away from.

“I’m staring because you have a hard on and aren’t even trying to hide it,” I snap. Just then, a sweet looking old woman with a messy gray bun walks in. She is holding a duster and smacks him with it as he grins down at her, beaming with adoration.

“Mimi!” He sounds like an excited little boy who found his beloved lost toy.

“Keep your hand off that thing, ‘specially in the presence of a lady.” She scolds him. He dips his head in apology, then winks at me over her head.

“Have fun training my new pet, Mimi. She’s a spitfire, so don’t be afraid to call for me if she gives you any trouble. I’ll be in Alec’s office!” He calls out, jogging down the stairs.

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